Yeah, but Browning could pull it off. Islam didn't. I saw it and said to my computer monitor "You're not Kurt Browning, take your hands out. It doesn't work and makes you look silly."

The thing is despite the effortlessness of their lifts, it reads as trying too hard. Their FD at juniors had issues definitely, but they looked like they could have their own identity. Three of four programs (OD last season, SD and FD here) are just too much like V/M. And as a V/M fanbot, no no no no no.

That score is high but probably fair. I just wanted it to be lower.

Wow, why such animosity and hostility towards this young and very talented team? Do you really think they knew in the spring/summer of '09 when they were putting their programs together that V&M were aso doing a flamenco OD? Um, NO. They can't help the fact that they both look like V&M in physical appearance.

Also, Alex Paul has extensive ballet training so of course there's going to be a resemblance to VIrtue in that way. To me, P&I are already doing harder programs/transitions etc than V&M did when they first burst onto the senior scene with Valse Triste.

I also don't get why you're comparing P&I to Browning. Browning is a singles skater skating skating to Casa --- P&I are ice dancers. Are you saying that Browning is the only skater who should ever skate to Casa?

Anyway, P&I are very talented and I look forward to watching them in the years to come.

To Dorispulaski,
I disagree with you re: P&I's second set of twizzles. I watched both their programs and watched the twizzles in slo-mo and do not think they are doing three-turns. Do you know what three-turns are? P&I are on the flats of their blades doing their twizzles, if they were doing three-turns, they would have been on inside or outside edges.

I also disagree that Paul should be dressed the same way as Elsa in the movie. A costume like that would look frumpy and fuddy-duddy - Paul is an 18 year old girl. She needs something age approriate and something that is soft and flowing and pretty - to suit her and their program. I would like to see her in a different colour for the FD rather than that pale blue but NOT something like Elsa.

In any case, I really think this team is going places. I expect them to challege W&P at Nationals.

As for the V&M and P&I comparisons if both teams go to worlds - it will help that V&M are doing a Latin FD.

Well I've been wanting to say , Pogue, don't be too bummed.I know you were interested to see the progress of this couple. Don't let a bad decision on the part of their team spoil it for you. I agree they made a bad choice with the costumes.( BTW, I'm also in favour of all skaters keeping their hands out of their pockets..including Kurt back in the day..but that's another story. )..No-one can fail to compare Alexandra to Tessa..there's the ballet training ...and to top it off, I don't know about height, but they are very similarly proportioned, so it's just over-kill to resort to evoking V/M with the costumes.

I differ a bit with doris in that I think that such an obvious comparison will backfire on them anyway, even if V/M don't return this season. If this is a strategy ( which I now think it is, since they didn't change costumes after Thornhill ) , it does them no favours , because it's too easy for those not favourably inclined to write them off as wanna-bes. Their very considerable accomplishments and promise deserve to be recognized. Their team doesn't need to invite the possibility of the couple being written off as just a pale imitation.

For their FD , I don't think they need to tell the story of the movie, either. The song is now a standard and it doesn't require that the skaters try to portray Bergman and Bogart. I would like them to stay true to the era , but any 40's themed costumes would do..( Even this is not absolutely necessary.."Moonlight and love songs ; never out of date.") ... I would like to see Technicolor , though.. not B&W. This girl dresses up so well. Just let her shine.

I'm not as worried about Mitch's costume since there are fewer options for men, and I actually don't feel he's very much like Scott. Scott has a natural focus and intensity that would be very hard to match and Mitch is a different physical type.

My last word of hope is that I don't get an "inflexible" vibe from David Islam's team. I hope it's not just wishful thinking on my part , but there may be more willingness to react to any negative feedback than with some coaching teams. ( We can't be the only ones who think they've taken a step too far.) ..Keeping my fingers crossed.